Fulham outlasts Brentford but Palhinha injury looms

And that’s it!

Fulham gets the win but would likely trade it to erase Palhinha’s apparently shoulder injury.

The goals go to Harry Wilson, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, and Carlos Vinicius for the Cottagers, while Brentford’s goals come courtesy of Yoane Wissa and Kristoffer Ajer.

About an hour until we see Newcastle vs Aston Villa.

Nathan Collins gets free and has a yard of space, and the record signing tries his luck.

Fulham keeper Bernd Leno, as he was so many times last season, is on the scene and stoops to corral to low driven shot.

Just a few more minutes for Fulham to make this 3-2 score a 3-2 win.

Willian was part of a deluge of second-half subs that caused a slow or at least uneasy period of the match, but the Brazilian star has snapped it to life.

Using a bit of space from Antonee Robinson’s overlapping run, Willian darts off the left flank and smashes a shot from 25 yards that just misses the far post.

A few minutes later, he’s a bit closer to goal and earning another corner for the Cottagers. His service leads to a throw-in. Still 3-2 Fulham.

It’s a hot day and Harrison Reed’s been out there a minute.

Brentford’s Zanka has not, but he’s red hot with Reed and we’ve got shoving and half of the players together in one place.

Fortunately cooler heads prevail and both players are laughing when play resumes on the other side of the pitch.

It’s preseason, and Kristoffer Ajer is reaping the benefits.

A spun back post cross drops in a sea of bodies and gets at least one more bounce than you’d see in the regular season.

That allows the ex-Celtic man, fresh into the game, to lash inside the far post and bring the Bees’ deficit back to one.

Carlos Vinicius is in the game less than 90 seconds when he adds to Fulham’s lead.

Vinicius fends off a hard-charging Ethan Pinnock and uses the outside of his boot to make it 3-1.

Smart finish.

Keeping Palhinha has been a focus of Fulham’s summer, but keeping him healthy is just as important.

The Portuguese needs quite a bit of treatment before getting up and leaving the pitch with his left arm in a sling, waving to fans with his right as he heads down to tunnel and Kevin Mbabu takes his place.

It puts a dark lining on a pleasant-enough first 45 minutes for Fulham, who got gorgeous goals from Harry Wilson and Bobby De Cordova-Reid sandwiched around Yoane Wissa’s poached set piece goal for Brentford.

It’s another terrific Fulham, and it’s Reed to Reid.

Harrison Reed opens the lid on Brentford with a massive field switch, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid is given time to operate on the left.

De Cordova-Reid works his way across the top of the 18 but cuts his dribble short with a cut shot to the near post that catches everyone — and most critically Brentford keeper Mark Flekken — leaning the other way.

2-1, Cottagers.

Bryan Mbeumo was given a second of Antonee Robinson’s time and the 23-year-old Cameroon international takes the invitiation to shoot.

The curling effort from the right has a flying Marek Rodak beaten but clatters off the far post, leading to a corner kick.

Brentford can’t do anything with it, though, and the match remains 1-1.

It’s a corner kick that gets the Bees level with the Cottagers.

A ball is swept toward the near post and is redirected for the inside of the far post.

Yoane Wissa taps it in from a foot out. Was it going in anyway? Probably, but Brentford will just be pleased to be 1-1.

Wilson gets behind the Brentford back line but has his back to an onrushing Flekken.

The Welsh midfielder tries a no-look cut shot behind him, but it has very little mustard and is rescued well before it reaches the goal line.

Well that’s a way to start!

Almost every Fulham player touches the ball and Sasa Lukic drives up the left side, getting the ball to Harrison Reed.

The ex-Saints man spins a pass to the right for Harry Wilson, and the blonde-topped shooter curls a wonderful shot from the edge of the 18 that leaves Mark Flekken staring over his shoulder as the ball traces the side netting. Brilliant.

1-0 Cottagers.

AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock” blares as Brentford takes the pitch in their purple and turquoise change strips and Fulham emerges in their traditional white shirts with black sleeves.

The Premier League music now plays before the American national anthem readies Lincoln Financial Field for the second of three Summer Series matches to hit Philadelphia this weekend.

If you missed Saturday’s seven-goal scrap between Chelsea and Brighton, head here.

Fulham boss Marco Silva stood in the tunnel watching his charges as the Cottagers know their manager isn’t going anywhere and is geared up to deliver another top-half finish.

The crowd for this London derby — in Philadelphia — is a bit tilted toward Fulham, which isn’t a big surprise in “Fulhamerica,” where Antonee Robinson drew big cheers upon arriving to the pitch.

A steady crowd is here on a hot day that had big-time tailgate vibes outside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where the black-and-white of Newcastle was everywhere and foretells a big, loud Geordie night at 7pm ET versus Aston Villa.

We’ve got a strong Bees side ready for this Stateside derby as Bryan Mbeumo and Ben Mee will make sure Brentford is stout at both ends of the pitch.

David Raya, Nathan Collins, Kristoffer Ajer, and Kevin Schade are among those who will await their introductions from the bench.

Antonee “Jedi” Robinson of USMNT fame starts opposite Kenny Tete as Marco Silva’s Fulham is a very familiar group.

No, Aleksandar Mitrovic won’t be here — and Raul Jimenez isn’t, yet — but Harrison Reed, Palhinha, Tom Cairney, and Bobby Decordova-Reid are among the starters.

Fulham vs Brighton how to watch live

Kickoff: 4pm ET Saturday

Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

TV Channel/Stream: Premier League Summer Series on Peacock